Variable-speed governor.



PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED PELE?. 1902.

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APPLICATION FILED IYBB. 27. 1902.

` 2 BHEBTB-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented March 2.1, 19075.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. SPRINGER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AVERYMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

VARIABLE-SPEED GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. l785,126, dated. March21, 1905.

Application led February 27, 1902. Serial No. 95,982.

To L7/Z whom, it may concern' Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. SPRINGER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county ofPeoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovemernts in Variable-Speed Governors, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to speed -governing devices for steam-engines.

With certain types of engines-for instance, those used in connectionwith road or traction locomotives-it is desirable to run the engine atvery different speeds, sometimes fast and sometimes slowly.

My invention has for its object to produce a governor which may bereadily and accurately adjusted to so control the steam as to allow theengine to run at different speeds, accordingly as the governor may beset.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it being applied to a centrifugal governor which is welladapted for use in connection with a traction-engine.

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a governor device embodying myinvention, the section being taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the governor device, parts being indicated insection, taken on the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken onthe line 4 4 of Fig 2.

In the drawings, A represents the valvecasing upon, which is mounted thesupporting stand or framework for the governor device. This standcomprises the base-plate 2 and the brackets 3 and 4. In these bracketsare arranged the bearings 5 and 6 for the main driving-shaft 7 of thegovernor. This shaft is belted to a suitable shaft of the engine, be-

- ing provided at one end with a belt-pulley 8.

and which is connected with the governorballs 11 in a manner which willpresently be described. The disk 10 is driven from the shaft 7 by afriction wheel or pulley 12, which is held in frictional engagement withthe face The upper portion of the hub is iitted to a sleeve or tube 18,seated at its lower end in a recess formed in the bearing 9 andextending thence upward through the hub and beyond the upper endthereof. The upper end of the sleeve is exteriorly screw-threaded toreceive the nut 19, which is provided on its end face with a race orgroove to receive the antifriction bearing-balls 20. The balls 2O run ina grooved bearing-plate 21, which is Secured to the upper face of thehub 15 of the friction-disk.

22 represents a set-nut engaging with the screw-threaded end of thesleeve 18 and arranged to bear against the nut 19.

It will be seen that the'arrangement described provides a verticalbearing of considerable length for the friction-disk 10 and that theparts of the bearing are so constructed that the disk, and with it thesleeve 18, may be easily removed without changing the adjustment of thehorizontal bearing 19, 20, and 21. These adjustable parts bearingdownward upon the hub orsleeve 15 of the upper frictionwheel areutilized as one of the agencies for normally maintaining contact betweenthe gearing.

The balls 11 of the governor are supported at the outer free ends of thesprings 23. These springs are horizontally-disposed leaf or platesprings of semicircular form, being connected at their outer ends to theballs and at their inner ends to the arms or brackets 24, extendingoutward from the hub 15 of the frictiondisk. My invention is not limitedto this particular form of governor-spring, and any other suitablespring' may be employed in lieu of that shown. The outer ends of thebell-crank levers 17 are connected with the governorballs byball-and-socket joints 25, while the inner ends of the levers. arepivotally connected with a collar 26, screwed to the upper end of thepart 27 of the valve-stem. This valve-stem extends downward through thetube or sleeve 18, being guided in its move- -ments by the bearing 28therefor in the bracket 4 and at its upper end by a bearing-sleeve 29,which is preferably connected with the collar 26 and extendssuiiiciently far into the central openingof the sleeve 1.8 to maintainpermanent bearing, notwithstanding the movements which may be impartedto the valve-rod or stem.

In order to have the elements of the frictional gearing, the wheels 10and 12, normally maintained in contact, I so construct the parts whichsupport the wheel 10 that it shall normally have a tendency to movedownward, the journal and the bearing parts which support it havingclearance for this purpose, as will be seen, and then I add to andsupport upon the wheel 10 parts which by their gravity tend to press itdownward, and thus normally maintain the frictional contact of thedriving-gear.

Itis very desirable that the shaft 7 should extend across the face ofthe disk 10 in order that its bearings 5 and 6 may be widely separatedand rupon either side of the frictionwheel 12, which is mounted thereon.When the shaft 7 is thus mounted, it is necessary that it be carriedacross the face of the disk diametrically. It is also very desirablethat the valve-stem should be arranged so as to be directly in line withthe movements of the valve and that the governor should be placeddirectly over and as close as possible to the valve-chamber A. Itfollows that when the parts are thus arranged-that is, withthedriving-shaft extending diametrically across the face of the disklO-the axes of these two parts-the driving-shaft and the valve-stem-`intersect, and provision must therefore be made for carrying thevalve-stem past the shaft in such manner that each of these parts shallbe free to operate without interfering' with the other. I make provisionfor thus carrying the valve-stem past the driving-shaft by forming thevalve-stem in two parts, which are united by a train of connectingmechanism extending past the driving-shaft on one side and whichmechanism I will now describe.

30 indicates a connecting-block secured to the lower end of theuppersection of the valvestem. It is preferably secured to the valvestemby a nut 3l in order that it may be easily disconnected.

32 is a lever pivoted to the bracket 4 and engaging with theconnecting-piece 30. This lever is connected by a link 33 with a similarlever 34, also mounted in the bracket 4 and which in turn engages with aconnectingblock 35, secu red to the upper end of the lower section 36 ofthe valve-stem. I prefer that the levers 32 and 34 should be of thelirst order and that the opposite arms of each lever should be of equallength, so that the movements imparted to the two portions 27 and 36 ofthe valve-stem should be the same in extent and direction. I connectwith the valve-stem a spring and combine with such spring suitableadjusting devices, whereby its tension may be regulated.

37 indicates a rod mounted in bearings 38 38 in the bracket 4. The lever34 is fastened to this rod by a pin or otherwise, so that the rodpartakes of the rocking movements of the lever. Surrounding the rod is atorsion coiled spring 39, one end of which is secured to the rod by thecollar 40, while its other end is connected with acollar 41, looselymounted upon the shaft and preferably resting against the inner face ofthe bearing 38. The loose collar 41 is provided with a worm-wheel 42,

with which engages a worm 43, suitably supported in the bracket 4. Theworm is formed with a linger piece 44 or with other means by which itmay be manipulated in order to rotate the loose collar 41. The worm 43serves both to'hold the loose collar against free rotation upon theshaft 37 and as part of the adj Listing means for varying the tension ofthe spring 39. This spring and the means for varing its tension, it willbe seen, have peculiar relation with the friction-gearing. The energy ofthe spring is so exerted as to draw downward on the valve-rod 28 andthrough that and the parts connected thereto to draw downward upon thefrictional gear-wheel 10. The spring and its connecting devices thusconstitute a means which act normally to maintain contact between theelements of the friction-gear.

I am aware of the fact that springs have been heretofore used ingovernors employing bevel positive toothed gears; but in such cases thetwo elements of the toothed gearing are always fixed in position inrelation to each other and necessarily must be fixed, as is well known,with respect to such gearing in order to maintain the proper positionsof their working pitch-lines. I believe myself to be the first to employin a steam-governor a frictional gearing having a relatively largehorizontal driven disk or wheel free to move vertically and a relativelysmall horizontallyadjustable driving friction-pinion with the valve-rodpassing vertically through the horizontal disk, in combination withmeans, such as a spring or the like, having a normal tendency to hold orassist in holding the horizontal disk down upon the adjustabledrivingpinion.

As has been intimated, it is often of advantage to be able to suddenlyvery much reduce IOO . the speed of the engine or to greatly increaseits speed, according as the work to he done by the engine may demand,and I eifect this change by directly controlling the speed of thegovernor, and this I do by adjusting the friction-Wheel 12 toward orfrom the axis of rotation of the friction-disk 10. It will be .movedunderstood that when the friction-wheel 12 is moved toward the center ofthe disk 10 the governor will begin to cut off steam when the engine isrunning at a lower rate of speed than when the parts are in the positionindicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, where the engagement of the wheelis with the outer portion of the disk.

The friction-wheel 12 is provided with a hub 47, with which engages ashifting arm 48. This arm is provided with a nut49,which is mounted uponand engages with a screw-threaded shaft 45, mounted in suitable bearingsin the governor frame or stand. The screw-shaft is provided with meanswhereby it may be rotated, such as the hand-wheel 46.

Among the advantages incident to a governor of a construction which Ihave described the following may be noted. The arrangement of thepartsis exceedingly compact, and the various shafts and moving parts areprovided with widely-separating bearings, thus giving' rigidity to theconstruction as a whole and to the several moving parts thereof. Bymounting the friction-disk as described I am enabled to remove it andthe governor-balls 'easily and without disturbing any of the adjustmentsof the parts, it being only necessary to disconnect the valve-stem byremoving the nut 31 and the block 30, after which the disk 1() andassociated parts may be entirely re- It will be observed that thebearing, which is composed of the parts 19, 20, and 21, is horizontallydisposed and is parallel with the friction-face of the disk 10. It thusoperates to cause the disk to run in a true plane and very materiallylessens the wear upon the vertical bearing of the disk and of thecentrif- `ugally-operated'weights and the other parts which areassociated therewith.

Other advantages incident to my invention have been pointed out inconnection with the description of the parts.

What I claim is- 4 1. In a governor, the combination of the stationarysupporting-frame, the centrifugally-operated weights, the rotatingsupport for such weights, abearing in the frame upon which the supportis loosely and removably mounted, and connections between the weightsand the valve comprising a detachable coupling arranged to permit thesaid connection to be severed and leave the support free to he removedfrom its bearing in the frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a governor, the combination of the stationary supporting-frame,the governorweights, the support for the weights, a bearing in the framefor such support concentric with the aXis of rotation of the weights,and another bearing for the support arranged in a plane at right anglesto the first-mentioned bearing, comprising two members one carried bythe support for the weights and the other by the supporting-frame, oneof such members being adjustable relative to the other, substantially asset forth;

3. In a governor, the combination of a stationary supporting frame, thegovernorweights, a support for the weights, a vertical bearing in theframe for such support concentric with the axis of rotation thereof, anda horizontal bearing for the support arranged above the same, wherebythe said horizontal bearing serves to cause the support for the weightsto run in a true plane, but does' not operate to sustain the support,substantially as set forth.

4. In a governor, the combination of the stationary supporting-framehaving a vertically-disposed bearing, the governor-weights, the supportfor the weights surrounding the said bearing and arranged to rotateabout the same, and a horizontally-disposed bearing for the supporthaving one member carried by the hub of the support for the weights, andthe other member carried by the vertical bearing of the stationaryframe, substantially as set forth.

5. In a governor, the combination with a stationary supporting-frame, arotary friction-disk, the governor-weights connected with the disk, abearing for the disk concentric with its axis of rotation, anotherbearing for the disk parallel with its friction-face, and means fordriving the friction-disk, substantially as set forth.

6. In a governor, the combination of a stationary frame, thegovernor-weights, a rotary carrier for the weights, a bearing for thesaid carrier concentric with itsaXis of rotation, from which bearing thecarrier is freely removable, another bearing for the carrier disposed ina plane at right angles to its axis of rotation, the last said bearingbeing removable with the carrier, and means for rotating the carrier,substantially as set forth. V

7 In a governor, the combination of a supporting-fraine, thegovernor-weights, a carrier for the weights mounted invertically-disposed bearings in the frame, a horizontally-disposedvertically-adjustable bearing for the carrier, and'means for driving thecarrier, substantially as set forth.

8.y In a governor, the combination with a supporting-frame, of afriction-disk having a horizontal bearing-face, and mounted invertically-disposed bearings in the frame, the centrifugally-operatedweights connected with the said disk, a horizontally-disposed bearingfor the disk, it being removable from the frame TOO IIO

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along with the disk, and a friction drivingwheel for rotating the disk,substantially as set forth.

9. In a governor, the combination of a supporting-frame having a bearing9, the governor-weights, arotary carrier for the weights mounted on thesaid bearing, another bearing for the carrier arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of rotation of the carrier, and a support forthe last-named bearing loosely supported in the frame, substantially asset forth.

10. In a governor, the combination of the governor-weights, a rotarycarrier therefor having a hub, a stationary bearing for the carrierextending through the hub, and a second bearing arranged in a plane atright angles to the axis of rotation of the carrier, substantially asset forth.

11. The combination of a supporting-frame provided with avertically-disposed'chambered bearing 9, afriction-disk mounted upon thebearing and provided with a hub 15, the weights connected with the hubof the friction-disk, a tube or sleeve 18 mounted in the chamberedportion of the bearing 9 and extending through the hub of the disk, ahorizontally-disposed bearing for the disk arranged at the upper end ofthe tube or sleeve 18, and the friction-wheel for driving the disk,substantially as set forth.

12. In a governor, the combination of the weights, a rotary carriertherefor, a drivingshaft extending diametrically across the face of thecarrier, gearing between the drivingshaft and the carrier, and valveconnections operated by the weights and offset about the shaft andextending in line with the axis of rotation of the carrier on eitherside of the driving-shaft, substantially as set forth.

13. In a governor, the combination of the weights, a rotary carriertherefor, a drivingshaft extending diametrically across the face of thecarrier, gearing between the drivingshaft and the carrier, a valve stemor rod operated by the governor-weights, made in two parts which arearranged on opposite sides of the driving-shaft, and connections betweenthe two parts of the valve stem or rod extending past the driving-shaft,substantially as set forth.

14. In a governor, the combination of the weights, a carrier therefor, adriving-shaft extending across the face of the carrier, gearing betweenthe driving-shaft and the carrier, a valve-rod operated by thegovernor-weights and made in two parts situated upon opposite sides ofthe driving-shaft, and the connectinglevers 32 and 34, and the link 33between the levers uniting the two parts of the valve-rod, substantiallyas set forth.

l5. In a governor, the combination of the weights, a carrier therefor, avalve-stem passing through the carrier and connected to the weights, adriving-shaft extending across the face of the carrier, bearings for thedrivingshaft arranged upon opposite sides of the axis of rotation of thecarrier, a driving-wheel for rotating the carrier mounted upon the shaftbetween the said bearings and free to move longitudinally upon theshaft, and means for shifting the driving-wheeLupon its shaft,substantially as set forth.

16. In a governor, the combination of the weights, a rotary carrier forthe weights having a friction-face, a driving-shaft, a frictionwheelmounted on the said shaft arranged to engage with the friction-face ofthe carrier, such wheel being free to move longitudinally along itsshaft, a shifting-arm engaging with the said wheel and adapted to moveit longitudinally of its shaft, and a screw-threaded shaft arranged tomove the shifting-arm, substantially as set forth.

17. In a governor of the class described, the combination of theweights, a rotary carrier for the weights having a friction-face, avalvestem passing through the carrier and adapted to be operated by theweights, a driving-shaft, a friction-wheel carried by the said shaft,and arranged to engage the friction-face of the carrier, and means forshifting the said wheel across the face of the carrier, substantially asset forth.

18. In a governor of the class described, the combination of thefriction-disk, the weights connected with the said disk, the valve-stempassing through the disk and adapted to be operated by the saidweightsthe driving-shaft, the friction-wheel carried by the said shaftand arranged to engage with the said friction-disk, and means for movingsaid wheel across the face of the disk, substantially as set forth.

19. In a governor of the class described, the combination of theweights, the valve-stem operatively connected with the weights, thefriction-disk adapted to rotate about the axis of the said stem and tosupport the said weights, a driving-shaft, a friction-wheel carried bythe said shaft and adapted to engage with the friction-face of the saiddisk, and means for shifting the said wheel across the face of the disk,substantially as set forth.

20. In a governor of the class described, the combination of theweights, a rotary carrier therefor having a friction-face, a valve-stempassing through the carrier and operatively connected with the saidweights at points above the said friction-face,adriving-shaft, africtionwheel carried by the said shaft and arranged to engage with thefriction-face of the carrier, and means for shifting the friction wheelacross the face of the carrier, substantially as set forth.

21. In a governor of the class described, the combination of theweights, a rotary carrier for the weights having a friction-face, avertically-arranged valve-stem passing up through the carrier andoperatively connected with the weights at points above saidfriction-face, a

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driving-shaft, a friction-wheel carried by the said shaft and arrangedto engage with the friction-face of the carrier, and means for shiftingsaid friction-wheel across the face of the carrier, substantially as setforth..

22. In a governor of the class described, the combinationof the weights,a rotary carrier therefor having a friction-face, a driving-shaftextending diametrically across said face, a friction-wheel carried bythe shaft and arranged to engage with the friction-face of the carrier,means for shifting the friction-wheel across the face of the carrier, aValve-rod operated by the governor-weights, a spring connected with therod adapted to oppose the action of lthe weights on the rod, and meansfor varying the tension of the spring, substantially asset forth.

23. In a governor of the class described, the combination of theweights, the driven friction-disk supporting the weights, a Valve-rodpassing through said disk and operated by the weights, the frictiondriving-disk arranged to engage with the friction-face of the drivendisk, means for shifting the driving disk across the face of the drivendisk, and means for normally maintaining the contact between the disks,substantially as set forth.

24. In a governor of the character described, the combination of thehorizontal drivingshaft, the vertical tubular shaft, thesteamcontrolling valve directly below said shafts, the speed-changingfrictional wheels respectively mounted on the axes of said shafts, andeach adapted to be moved longitudinally of its shaft, and avertically-adjustable valve-rod loosely connected to one of saidfrictional wheels, substantially as set forth.

25. A governor of the character described provided with speed-changinggearing, means for normally maintaining contact between the gearing, andmeans for shifting one of the gears across the face of its opposinggear, substantially as described.

26. Inagovernor of the character described, speed-changing gearingcomprising frictiondisks, means for shifting one of said disks acrossthe face of its opposing gear to change the point of contact, and meansfor normally maintaining the disks in contact, said lastmentioned meansbeing independent of the adjusting means for the movable disk,substantially as described. y

27. In a governor of the character described, friction gearing, andmeans for normally maintaining a forced contact between thefriction-gearing comprising adjustable mechan- WILLIAM N. SPRINGER.

Witnesses:

ROY KENNEDY, LEE WV. HAZARD.

